I do not own the WWE or any of the characters associated with it. I only own Rose and her family.

Chapter 15

The next morning Rose woke up to the chirping of birds. It was odd considering whom she was with, but she opened her eyes to see Morgana of all people in her chambers.

"Good morning, my queen. Richard asked me to contact you. I am not real, I am just an image in your head. Richard plans to rescue you, but I fear he may be walking into a trap."

"What do I do?"

"I suppose if you could tell us where you were, we could send the army after you and Richard would be able to come there and fight Marcus." Morgana answered.

"Richard cannot fight Marcus. If he stands against his father, he'll be killed. I can't allow that to happen and I won't let it happen." Rose responded coldly.

"Then you will have to make a choice when the time comes. Do as Marcus says in the meantime and in two days, I will contact you again and you can tell me where you are if Kane's scouts haven't found you by then."

"Thank you." Rose said. "You have no idea how much it means to me."

"I think I do." Morgana smiled. "Until next time, my queen, may the goddess bless you."

Morgana left her there, wondering what she should do. A servant entered and Rose dressed for the day in a blue cote and black gown. She left her room for the first time and it felt very familiar. She arrived in the throne room to see Marcus with some advisors from his army. The creatures of night, dark skinned and red-eyed, bowed to Rose as she entered.

"My queen, you join us. Did you sleep well?" One asked.

"Very well, thank you. Marcus, might I speak with you a moment?" Rose clearly was uncomfortable.

"Leave us. I will continue this discussion in the war room." Marcus got up and went over to her. "Did you enjoy your night with me, my love?"

"Of course I did. I love you and you were wonderful, even down to the…" She blushed, thinking of her night with him. The passion was enough to make her cheeks flush with color.

"I'm glad. I was happy you decided to stay with me. It will make the transition easier when I take the throne back." Marcus smirked. "What did you wish to discuss?"

"I wanted to know where we were. I have no contact with the children and I don't want them to think I am dead. I won't tell them where I am, but I do wish to let them know that I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about and they shouldn't be so concerned of me as I am of them." Rose let out a breath.

"I understand. The children are your number one priority. I shall have a scribe send a letter to the children." Marcus answered.

"May I dictate it? A mother's words are only understood by herself and the children she bore."

"I see no harm in such a fact." Marcus countered. "Scribe!"

"What is your will, your grace?"

"Procure a letter from the High Queen to her royal children, and then send it with your fastest messenger to the castle at Anglia. Make haste." Marcus swept out of the room without waiting for his answer.

"My queen." The scribe bowed and waited for her.

"My most wonderful children—" Rose began

-:-:-:-

"I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. I had hoped I would have more to tell you, but until I know where I am it is pointless to have Morgana contact me. I am fine and in good hands. The servants treat me as the High Queen and Marcus readies his armies to take on your King. I had hoped that you had found me by now, but Marcus has kept me well hidden. The scribe has at least informed me that it takes a day's ride to get to Anglia, so that should help the scouts. As for you, my loves, don't worry about me for when the time comes, the enemy will be revealed and I will side with the true High King as should you. Don't fret for me. I am always thinking of you and I always will love you. Richard, you will be brilliant in your upcoming battle. Remember to use your position against your father, it will help you when you least expect it. Theresa, take care of your younger siblings. They need their big sister. Maria, continue your lessons with Lady Morgana. You still need to practice your curtsey in court. Vivian, you fret too much about me. I know you have asked your father my whereabouts by now. Richard will find me, you must trust your older brother. He is a warrior and the family protector. Edward, my boy, you are growing stronger every day and I cannot wait to hug you once more. All my love and well wishes, your mother." Richard finished the next day.

The royal children were openly weeping in court and the ladies had definite sympathy for them. Their mother had been taken from them. Vivian stepped forward. "Will you find her, brother? Like Mother promises?"

"Of course, Vivian. Trust me as mother says." Richard hugged her. "What do you purpose we do, my King?"

Kane didn't hear a mention of her to him, so he had to assume she was being watched. "A day's ride from Anglia. He would definitely put her in a castle. What castles are a day's ride from here?"

"Mercia and Kent are the only two, my lord." A vassal replied.

"Search the castles there immediately." Kane barked. "I want my Queen found and unharmed."

"There was no need to yell at them, my King." Richard said, softly. "I want Mother back too, but yelling at them won't help anything."

"I miss her, Richard."

"As do we all."

-:-:-:-

Marcus took Rose's arm roughly and barged in on her servants making their bed. The servants scurried out as their king unleashed his wrath. "You told them a day's ride from Anglia and you thought I would not find out?"

"I told them that to reassure them, my lord. Nothing more. There are more than one hundred castles within a day's ride from Anglia." Rose said calmly.

"You will pay for this, Rose. I wasn't ready!" Marcus barked at her. "Do you want me to hurt you again and leave you pregnant?"

Now it was Rose's turn to be angry. "You left me to go on your Irish crusade. They are my people and you treat them like common filth."

"They are."

"So you raised me up so that you can butcher them with no remorse? You saved the sad little Irish girl so that you may have a clear conscience. But you don't, do you?" Rose bit out.

"What do you mean?" Marcus seethed.

"I mean, you left me with child both times you left and now you want to do it again. I will not allow you to use me as a brood mare." Rose answered.

"You will do as I order you to, Rose."

"I am your High Queen. You will address me as such." Rose said, not amused.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but you are still my wife and a woman. You will bow to my will."

"You'll have to kill me first." Rose retorted.

"Very well, Rose. If you don't undress and let me bed you, I will do as I did to you before Theresa was born." Marcus cruelly remarked.

"Richard will feel it." Rose answered, feeling small.

"Not an almighty High Queen now, are we?" He barked. "Undress now."

"Marcus, please…"

"Not fast enough." Marcus took his knife and ruined the gown, hacking it to pieces. Next he took her wrist as her eyes widened in fear. "If I die, you will feel unimaginable pain until Richard bonds to you again. You are mine, Rose and your son can't help you this time." Marcus cut her wrist and drank it in, making slurping noises. Then he slashed his wrist and pressed them together as Rose struggled. "Say it, Rose. Say the words I want to hear."

"No, I can't. Please."

"Say them or I'll hurt Richard."

"You already have, Marcus."

"SAY IT." Marcus barked, forcing her on the bed. "SAY IT as I enter your beautiful body, my love."

"I'm yours, Marcus. I always have been." She gasped out.

-:-:-:-

"Kane!" Richard ran down the hallway, knocking over servants. Something was VERY wrong. "KANE!"

"What is it, Richard? It's the middle of the night?"

"Mother's been bonded to Marcus." Richard bit out.

Kane sat up. "You're sure?"

"She's not dead, I know that. We both would have felt that. Marcus bonded her to him. If we kill him, she'll be in pain." Richard answered.

"Only until you re-bond with her."

"He re-bonded with her. Isn't that enough?" Richard yelled.

"You'll wake the castle." Kane soothed.

"What are we going to do?"

"I don't know, but we'll think of something." Kane said.

"We need to act quickly. He's probably torturing her." Richard turned on his heel and left, leaving Kane alone in the dark room.

"Knowing my brother, he's probably pleasuring himself with her torture."